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Possible Medal of Honor Upgrade for Chapman at the White House

— Wilson Brissett4/21/2017

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TSgt. John Chapman in theater. Air Force photo

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​The White House is considering Defense Secretary James Mattis’ recommendation that TSgt. John Chapman’s Air Force Cross be upgraded to a Medal of Honor, Air Commando Association Vice President and retired CMSgt. Wayne Norrad told Air Force Magazine. Chapman died at the Battle of Takur Gar, also known as the Battle of Roberts Ridge, on March 4, 2002, in Afghanistan and was awarded an Air Force Cross posthumously in January of 2003. “Our fingers are crossed,” Norrad said Thursday, “but we’re looking at the possibility of an upgrade for Chapman from the Air Force Cross to the Medal of Honor.” He confirmed that “SecDef has pushed it forward with a recommended approval,” and said he thinks the upgrade is “at the White House now.” If the upgrade is approved, Chapman’s would be the first Medal of Honor ​for an airman after September 11, 2001. “It would be pretty huge,” Norrad said, particularly for the special tactics community, which has been awarded nine Air Force Crosses since 9/11.